The Ministry of Transport's inspectors on Tuesday suspended two taxi companies from operating at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City for various violations.

Petrolimex Taxi and Festival Taxi were also fined VND7.5 million (US$357) each, according to the inspectors who wrapped up their inspection that began on December 16 at 11 taxi firms operating at the airport.

Inspectors said Petrolimex Taxi was found laxly managing its drivers by not signing contracts with them. Some of its taxis had paint colors and logos different from those registered with local agencies.

Moreover, its drivers were caught violating regulations when picking passengers at the airport more than 70 times this year, according to inspectors.

Festival Taxi made the same violations, such as incompetent management, not signing contracts with 91 of its drivers, inspectors said. The company's drivers also were found violating regulations when operating at the airport 37 times.

According to inspectors, they also halted the operation of 75 of 181 Saigon Tourist Taxis for selling their logos to another company.

In its previous inspection last month, the ministry suspended two of nine inspected taxi companies for violations related to vehicles, parking lots and driver management.